Aether-Flux

Connections

• Scarlet was once on a expedition to the remote Andes searching for the source of the mysterious aether-flux, she discovered a Lost World of dinosaurs, but was betrayed by her partner, Baron Von Evilstein

Context

"Aether" (or "ether," also called "quintessence") is commonly used as a vague, soft magic term for many fantasy settings. It's like saying magic is powered by "mana." What makes "aether" so magical, anyway? Turns out the ancient Greeks thought the gods breathed aether/ether just as humans breathe air (the Greek root for aether means "pure, fresh air" or "clear sky"). Even going into medieval science, people thought space outside of the earth's atmosphere was made up of aether, even going so far as to believe it was the fifth element. From all this, as well as 18th century physicists theorizing about the movement of light, it is easy to see how "aether" has become a common soft magic term in fantasy settings.

What is "flux"? It simply means the process of flowing in or out, or an abnormal discharge/appearance. The only solid reference to "aetherflux" I could find was a powerful Magic: The Gathering card called "Aetherflux Resevoir." It seems safe to assume that the "mysterious aether-flux" source Scarlet was looking for has something to do with a strange natural (or supernatural) anomaly that some intelligent minds view has the potential to enable powerful and long-lasting technology.